Japandroids at Indie88’s Up in Smoke Legalization Event at The Phoenix Concert Theatre - Concert Photos

On October 17, 2018, Canada made history. We became the second country on the planet, and the first country in the G7 to legalize recreational cannabis. I attended a celebration of this monumental and momentous occasion at Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre put on by local radio station Indie88. They called it The Up in Smoke Legalization Event and it featured Japandroids, The Dirty Nil and Indie88 radio personality Brent's band Sure. Click through to those other posts for those pics.

Overall, it was a fantastic event, featuring amazing music from three great bands, snacks like cotton candy, gummies, jelly beans and rockets, paraphernalia like papers and grinder cards, and McD's burgers on the way out. Quite a night.

Japandroids are one of my favourite bands. They've graced the virtual pages of this site for their music and their live shows including shows at Field Trip this past summer and at The Danforth Music Hall back in 2017. I don't think I can say anything about them that I haven't said before. I love their music, their attitude, their live intensity, and the sheer amount of glorious noise that two guys from the wet coast can make. We even got to hear some new tunes, which sounded awesome. They did tell us that this would be their last show for a long time as they go to record. But then again, they said that at Field Trip.

Check out some tunes from their powerful set:

"Near to the Wild Heart of Life"

"Fire's Highway"

"Heart Sweats"

"North East South West"

"The Nights of Wine and Roses"

"Younger Us"

"The House That Heaven Built"

The Dirty Nil at Indie88’s Up in Smoke Legalization Event at The Phoenix Concert Theatre - Concert Photos

The Dirty Nil are a powerhouse rock band that put on a simply amazing rock and roll show. Their new album Master Volume just came out in September and I got to catch the band once again when they played Indie88’s Up in Smoke Legalization Event at The Phoenix Concert Theatre on weed legalization day in Canada, October 17.

The band was in perfect form, doling out tunes with unmatched intensity to a crowd that was packing in close and loving every minute. The new tunes sound amazing and the band consistently proves themselves to be one of the best live bands playing right now. Go see them. Really. Go see them. If you're in Toronto, your next chance is at The Opera House on December 1.

I have seen The Dirty Nil perform before. I caught their live show for the first time at Riverfest Elora back in 2017. I was blown away. Check out those photos here. I also got to see them opening for The Hold Steady during their four-night stand at The Horseshoe. They played on the day of Master Volume's release.

The Dirty Nil played sandwiched between headliners Japandroids and openers Sure. Click through to check out those pics, too.

Listen to some of The Dirty Nil's music:

"Bathed In Light"

"That's What Heaven Feels Like"

"I Don't Want That Phone Call"

"Please Please Me", "Pain of Infinity", a cover of Metallica's "Hit the Lights", and "Smoking is Magic"

"No Weaknesses"

Sure at Indie88’s Up in Smoke Legalization Event at The Phoenix Concert Theatre - Concert Photos

Indie 88's own Brent has a band. They're called Sure and they're a really solid indie/alternative rock power trio with fun and relatable tunes. I got to see them as the first band on stage at Indie88’s Up in Smoke Legalization Event at The Phoenix Concert Theatre on Canada's first day of legal weed, October 17.

Sure got the crowd warmed up for The Dirty Nil and headliners Japandroids on a fun evening of weed (brought by attendees only and enjoyed outside, of course), snacks like cotton candy, rockets and assorted gummies, jelly beans and other fruit-flavoured treats, plus paraphernalia like papers and grinder cards. And how can I forget the gift of a McD's burger on the way out?

Let Sure's tunes spend some time with your ears and check them out live.

"Bored"


"Neighbours"


"Brittany"

Chvrches at The Danforth Music Hall for Indie 88's celebration of the one year anniversary of the Josie Dye Show - Concert Photos

I love Chvrches. They are one of my all-time favourite bands. Bar none. Every time I see them perform live I enjoy them more than the time before. And I always enjoy them a lot. I was lucky enough to be able to attend a very special Chvrches concert in Toronto on May 19. Not only was it the first night of their tour to celebrate the release of their latest album Love Is Dead, it was also a special celebration of the one-year anniversary of the Josie Dye show on local Toronto indie-alternative radio station Indie 88.

As always, Chvrches' set was super high energy. It featured songs from all three of their albums and so many of my favourites. This show also marked their first show with a live drummer. I think it added to the energy and vibrancy of the songs that are already in very high amounts at a Chvrches show. The band played impeccably and Lauren's voice sounded fantastic, as her stage presence continued to grow.

Singer Lauren Mayberry told us cat stories and woes of getting in shape after months of leisure. My favourite comment of the night was in introducing their drummer Jonny Scott, "The drum machine grew legs and took on human form." Lauren even wore a necklace with the three words of the new album’s title Love Is Dead. Nice touch.

The band seems to love Toronto and can’t keep away for too long. We’re very fortunate that the wait between concerts is so amazingly short this time. They’re appearing at Yonge-Dundas Square for a free show for NXNE on Saturday, June 16. I'm planning to be there and I'd recommend you do so too.

If you're so inclined, click here to check out my photos from last time Chvrches played the Danforth Music Hall in 2015.

I just couldn't pick favourites from such an amazing set, so here's the whole set:

"Get Out"

"Bury It"

"Gun"

"We Sink"

"Graffiti"

"Lies"

"Under The Tide"

"God's Plan"

"Miracle"

"Never Ending Circles"

"Tether"

"Forever"

"Recover"

"Leave A Trace"

"Never Say Die"

Encore songs "The Mother We Share"

and "Clearest Blue"

And here are a few shots of the Indie 88 crew - Josie Dye along with cohosts Matt and Carlin celebrating the one-year anniversary for their show - and a couple of shots of DJ Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene spinning some tunes to warm things up.